A MAN has been arrested in connection with the alleged indecent assault of a woman at the Noord Street taxi rank, apparently because she was wearing a miniskirt, the National Taxi Alliance said yesterday.

“Firstly, it makes my heart easier now to know the perpetrator has been arrested, so that is a relief on my side. It was a criminal act ... and I hope they lose the case and spend time in jail,” said National Taxi Alliance chairman Sicelo Mabasa.

However, police Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht was not immediately able to confirm the arrest. “A case was opened yesterday (Tuesday) but I am not sure if there was an arrest,” she said.

Meanwhile, the National Taxi Driver Association assured police they would hand over the other drivers as soon as they were identified, Johannesburg metro police said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said: “Police raided the Jack Mincer taxi rank, which resulted in a meeting between six representatives of the Taxi Driver Association and queue marshals with the Johannesburg metro police department today.”

The woman, 25, was allegedly assaulted on Sunday when taxi drivers and hawkers at the rank tore off her clothes and assaulted her to cheers from a crowd who said she was being taught a lesson for wearing a miniskirt.

The SA Human Rights Commission and the Commission on Gender Equality condemned the incident, saying they would investigate the matter and ensure that justice was done.

“Given the protection of human freedoms and right to dignity which is provided for in our Constitution, we find these incidents horrendous. This is based on the patriarchal notion that women must be dictated to on how they should dress in public.

“We call on all those involved, including taxi men, to respect the right to women’s bodies and their inalienable right to dignity,” the commission said in a statement.

Discussions with taxi associations would also be held on the incident and on issues of women’s safety in general.

On Tuesday, Gauteng transport MEC Ignatius Jacobs called on the leadership of the taxi industry to intervene and to work with taxi commuters in exposing the people involved in such acts of indecency.

The ANC Women’s League and the Young Communist League described the incident as barbaric and chauvinistic. “These actions are undermining gender struggles which are a cornerstone of our hard-won freedom and democracy. We believe these actions have no credence and role in our society,” said YCL spokesperson Castro Ngobese.

The Women’s League called on the Department of Transport and Safety to provide a 24-hour patrol in Noord Street. — Sapa